Mexican-American War

What does it mean to ANNEX territory?

• To lose it in war

• To add it to a country

• To split it with another country

Why did many presidents not want to annex Texas?

• They feared it would cause a war with Mexico

• They believed it was too expensive

• They didn't support the people who were in charge of Texas

Which president finally decided to annex Texas?

• Andrew Jackson

• Thomas Jefferson

• James K. Polk

• Zachary Taylor

Why did James K. Polk want to annex Texas?

• To create unity among Americans

• To build a trade partnership with Mexico

• To protect America from invasion from Mexico

• To achieve Manifest Destiny

What were TWO causes of conflict between U.S. and Mexico over the annexation of Texas?

• Mexico had wanted to reclaim Texas and this would make it harder for them to do that

• Mexico and the U.S. disagreed about the southern border of Texas

• Mexico had already annexed Texas before the U.S.

• Mexico wanted to accomplish Manifest Destiny before America

Why did James K. Polk want to go to war with Mexico?

• To claim Texas for the U.S.

• To claim California and New Mexico for the U.S.

• To defend America from an attack from Mexico

• To stop Native American attacks on the border of the two countries

According to the source provided, why did President Polk want to claim California?

• Gold had been discovered in California

• California was largely unsettled and easy to conquer

• California used to be part of the United States and they wanted to reclaim it

• Americans would spread Christianity to California

What event triggered the start of the Mexican-American War?

• When Mexican troops fired on American troops at the disputed Texas border

• When American troops allied with Mexico

• When James K. Polk officially declared war on Mexico

• When Mexico invaded the U.S. to claim Texas

Do you think it was justified for the U.S. to declare war on Mexico? Why or why not?

What does this cartoon of James K. Polk during the time period of the Mexican American War reflect?

• Many Americans supported Polk's decision to go war and believed it was necessary

• Some Americans viewed Polk's decision to go to war as violent and unnecessary